Bryn Terfel stars in Donizetti's Don Pasquale

Donizetti's 1843 Don Pasquale is a comic-opera masterpiece requiring superb performers. In Damiano Michieletto's smart modern production at the Royal Opera House in London, that's just what it gets. At the head of the cast is Bryn Terfel, who brings his unmatched voice and charisma to the title character – an old bachelor duped into marriage with sweet-seeming Norina (Olga Peretyatko), who turns out to be very different once installed as his wife. Michieletto's staging offers plenty of wit while also addressing some of the questions the work asks of today's audiences. In the pit, Evelino Pidò conducts with impeccable style, and with sparkling performances on stage to match Donizetti's sparkling music, the result is an opera buffa delight.

Soloists: 

Ioan Hotea (Tenor), Olga Peretyatko (Soprano), Bryan Secombe (Bass), Bryn Terfel (Bass-Baritone), Markus Werba (Baritone)

Ensembles: 

Chorus of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden

Conductor: 

Evelino Pidò